Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc. Expands Use of FileNexus® For New Cable Locates

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KW Hydro’s latest initiative involves underground cable locates. Whenever a customer is planning to do any work on their property which includes breaking ground, they call KW Hydro to identify where wires are buried. The company typically does 15,000 locates per year. Previously, technicians took paper files out, made notes in the field, and then physically filed everything. If anyone needed the information, they’d have to scour through cabinets to find them.

“What impresses me most about FileNexus® is the software’s flexibility. The potential uses within the organization are vast, and Loris Technologies’ staff have provided valuable assistance in exploring some of the many possibilities.”
Andy Borthwick – Information Technology Manager, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc.

Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc. (“KW Hydro”) is a local distribution company responsible for distributing electricity to 88,000 homes and businesses within the City of Kitchener and the Township of Wilmot. A wholly owned subsidiary of Kitchener Power Corporation, KW Hydro is focused on providing a safe and reliable supply of electricity to its customers.

KW Hydro has been a FileNexus® user since 2005. FileNexus® gives utilities, both large and small, the ability to capture virtually any type of document from any source (i.e. paper records such as maps, drawings, manuals, electronic files such as host generated reports, client statement streams, IVR recordings, etc.), index and compress them for secure archival and future recall—providing a single cohesive repository for all document management, workflow and retention needs.

The initial project at KW Hydro involved archiving and managing all of KW Hydro’s daily billings. The project provided dramatic improvements in staff efficiency, huge gains in storage space, and helped KW Hydro comply with federal privacy legislation. KW Hydro then rolled the system out to capture and store customer correspondence, problem reports, and farm stray voltage investigation requests . The farm stray voltage requests record the complete workflow processes to track and measure the utility response to these customer inquiries against customer response time objectives. The entire project was implemented in a matter of a few short weeks.

Since then, FileNexus® has supported KW Hydro as it added 14,000 new customers by continuing to:

  • Eliminate the need for hard copies and paper filing systems, even as the amount of “paperwork” increases
  • Ensure staff remain productive by keeping key customer information at their fingertips
  • Control costs by reducing the need to print
  • Maintain accurate customer information and meeting regulatory requirements

KW Hydro’s latest initiative involves underground cable locates. Whenever a customer is planning to do any work on their property which includes breaking ground, they call KW Hydro to identify where wires are buried. The company typically does 15,000 locates per year. Previously, technicians took paper files out, made notes in the field, and then physically filed everything. If anyone needed the information, they’d have to scour through cabinets to find them.

Now, the required files will be printed out of their host system with a barcode. The technician will still take the files on site to make their notations and drawings. They will also have historical files with them—as images viewed on their laptops. The new files will be scanned as a package back into FileNexus®, where the barcode will connect the new information to the complete customer file. If KW Hydro is called to do another locate for that site, all of the information will be available at the click of a mouse. This project is expected to deliver significant time savings and improvements in data accuracy.

Next Steps
KW Hydro’s next project with FileNexus® is expected to involve integrating the utility’s bills into Canada Post’s epost online bill presentment system.

Learn more about how other utilities use FileNexus®:

What Can FileNexus Do For You?
For more information on how FileNexus® can improve your business efficiency, please visit www.loristech.com, or write to sales@loristech.com.

About Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc.
For more information about KW Hydro, please visit their website www.kwhydro.com.

Published May 31, 2012.